NASA researchers will present findings on a variety of Earth and space science topics at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Washington, Feb. 17-21.
PRESS CONFERENCE: Findings from NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers and the Cassini-Huygens Mission: Friday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m. EST, Wardman Park Hotel, Wilson A Room. Participants: Steve Squyres, Mars rover principal investigator from Cornell University. Jean Pierre Lebreton, European Space Agency (ESA); Dennis Matson, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Tobias Owen, University of Hawaii, Cassini-Huygens mission.
SESSION: Exploring New Worlds: Results from the Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn and Titan: Saturday, Feb. 19, 8 to 9:30 a.m. EST. A panel from NASA, ESA and the University of Hawaii discuss the significance of the mission and future exploration of Titan.
SESSION: Climate Change is in the Air: Studies of Global Warming from Satellites: Saturday, Feb. 19, 8 to 11 a.m. EST. Clouds, carbon dioxide, ozone, and soot each play a role in our changing climate. NASA and other agencies’ satellites supply accurate data about these agents, which in turn improve the accuracy of computer models. The session starts with an introduction to the atmospheric “actors” and continues with the satellite view of each as measured from space.
PRESENTATION: Revolutionary Engine Architectures: Monday, Feb. 21, 2 to 3:30 p.m. EST. Robert Shaw of NASA’s Glenn Research Center presents an overview of some the radically new propulsion system architectures being considered by a team from NASA, other government agencies, industries and universities. Shaw will highlight the potential payoffs and the research challenges.
PRESENTATION: Climate Change and Urban Decision-Making: Sunday, Feb. 20, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. EST. Cynthia Rosenzweig of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) discusses how strategies like urban tree-planting, light-colored surfaces, and vegetated roofs were tested in a GISS model simulating the New York Metropolitan Area climate. Results indicate city-wide tree-planting can reduce afternoon temperatures by up to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).
PRESENTATION: Modeling Earth Extremes: From Snowballs, to Slushballs, to Pliocene Puddles: Sunday, Feb. 20, 8:30-11:30 a.m. EST. While global climate models continue to improve, there is some evidence to suggest they underestimate past climate changes. Studies using GISS’s model reveal this conundrum and raise concern about what it might mean for our future climate.
All sessions are open to registered media. Media should report to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Taft Room for credentialing during the meeting. AAAS media point of contact at the annual meeting: Earl Lane: 202/745-2112.
For more information about NASA events at the AAAS meeting on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/aaas2005.html
